Tag: writing goals

Categories
Writing for YA

When Writing Goals and Reality Collide

Beginning a new year tends to motivate people to get organized, start new projects, or finish ones they’ve ignored for far too long. It’s a great time to make plans. The trouble comes when it becomes clear that goals are harder to reach than expected. 

If you find yourself so discouraged and you’re inches away from throwing in the towel, it might be time to consider a new perspective.

As writers, we tend to focus on the problems in our writing, which is a necessary thing, but what if we focused on the positive instead? 

Constantly focusing on weaknesses and ignore abilities is a disservice to our readers and ourselves. Don’t neglect your strong points, the parts you do well.

Where Do You Excel? 

Take an assessment. 

What is it about your writing that shines? 

Are you great at story concepts and plot?

Can you produce snappy dialogue?

Are you a lyrical writer? 

Do you create characters that your critique partners and beta readers love? Perhaps you’re good at comedy or evoking an emotional connection with readers.

What are the elements of writing that you enjoy the most?

These are the things that make your voice unique, those natural talents, and it’s easier to improve in those areas than others and make your writing stand out. If you don’t know what your areas of excellence are, consider what your critique partners and beta readers consistently praise. 

Instead of trying to be exceptional at all the different skills, aim for mastery of basic storytelling. Then work at continuing improvement in the areas you already love and are proficient in.

What About the Other Stuff?

Am I saying to ignore the weak spots in your writing? Not at all. But you can’t do everything. Bring the basic storytelling skills up to an acceptable level. Learn basic story structure, understand GMC, how to create interesting characters, and how to write dialogue that is clear, along with the other bare bones every story needs. Once an author has achieved a measure of competency in all the necessary areas, it’s fine to lean into strengths.

When You’re Stuck

Are you stuck at a certain aspect of your story? For whatever reason it’s worked before, but this time, the story or chapter refuses to come into focus. Instead of fixating on what’s wrong, look at what worked before. What made that piece of writing stand out? 

Too much focus on the things we feel we are doing wrong gums up the works.

Lean Into Your Gift

Not everyone can write poetic descriptions. Comedy may never come easy to you. Not everyone will produce a high-octane tale. Some folks always end up with a quiet story, even after brainstorming ideas for weeks. Maybe those writers were never meant to write the stories that remain elusive no matter what they try. Maybe they were meant to show the world their own unique stories.

Focus on the positives and what you love about writing, the parts of the creative process that draw you. Instead of attempting to write like someone else just because they are popular or successful, let your voice onto the page. Continue to hone skills, improving the most real and beautiful parts of your gift, and see what happens.

Donna Jo Stone writes YA contemporary novels about tough issues but always ends the stories with a note of hope. She blogs at donnajostone.com.

Categories
The Intentional Writer

How to Turn Writing Dreams into Writing Goals

The intentional writer

As the year draws to a close, it’s a good idea to prepare for the year ahead. This post will help you turn fuzzy ideas and wishful dreams into a more actionable writing strategy for the year ahead.

To create next year’s writing strategy, begin by answering this simple question—Why do you write?

Step One: Know your why

Open your journal or get a blank piece of paper and free write about why you write. Just write anything that comes into your head. Don’t stop to think or correct. No editing. No wordsmithing. Keep your pen or pencil moving until you fill the whole page (or more than one page if you’re on a roll).

When you’re finished, read through what you wrote and highlight the key concepts that capture your most honest answer. On a fresh page, summarize the most important reasons you write. This motivation will inform the rest of your writing strategy.

Step Two: Clarify your vision

Considering your writing motivations from step one, answer the question, “What is my vision for this time next year?” If you could look back at the end of next year and see that you’ve been successful at furthering your writing dreams, what are the key areas of growth or achievement that you would have accomplished?

Or, to look at it another way, imagine what you would love to accomplish by the end of next year. Describe the main things you’d like to finish, master, or figure out.  

Defining your vision will give you something to shoot for. If you lack a concrete vision, it’s much more difficult to make progress or prioritize your goals.

Step Three: Where are you now?

Before creating writing goals for the coming year, you need to know where you’re starting from. So, where are you now in your writing journey?

Reflect on what you’ve accomplished this past year.

  • What important skills or lessons have you learned?
  • Have you taken a scary step forward?
  • What writing goals have you achieved?
  • What projects are still a work in progress (but progressing)?
  • How have you held firm to your key writing motivations?

Take a minute to congratulate yourself on the progress you have made. It’s important to pay attention to the milestones along the way if we want to stay motivated to accomplish our big writing dreams.

Next reflect on the main disappointments of the past year.

  • What hasn’t progressed like you’d hoped?
  • What didn’t work so well?
  • How can you pivot from that disappointment?
  • How have you strayed from your key writing motivations?

Step Four: Make intentional and realistic writing goals

Finally, it’s time to craft your writing goals. Use the information in the first three steps to create goals that will help you get from where you are now to where you’d love to be by the end of next year.

When crafting your writing goals, consider these factors.

  • They should stretch you or challenge you.
  • But they must also be realistic, not so far from where you are now that you’ll never meet them.
  • Goals are based on outcomes you can control (and there’s an awful lot you can’t control). They should be focused on your efforts, not the hoped-for results of those efforts.
  • They should specific enough and clear enough that you can tell when you’ve achieved them.
  • Finally, they should include a deadline.

Examples of writing goals

Example 1: I want to make the New Your Times Bestseller list. This is not a good goal. Why? This statement doesn’t include a date and it’s probably not realistic. The primary problem, however, is that you cannot control the outcome. Even if your book sells really well, it may not be selected for the list.

Example 2: I want my new book to hit the top ten bestseller status in an Amazon category by June 30. This goal is better. It includes a date, it’s easy to see whether you succeed or not, and it’s potentially within the realm of possibility. You still can’t fully control this outcome, but you can hire experts or follow their proven strategies to make it a potentially achievable goal.

Example 3: I will finish a revised version of my next book manuscript by May 1. This goal is specific and is based on an outcome you can control. It has a deadline, and success is reasonably clear. (Finish is a little vague, but if you aren’t prone to fussing over a manuscript forever, it might suffice.)    

May you have success meeting your writing goals for 2023!

I hope you will take some time in the next few weeks to think through these steps and come up with some specific writing goals that will help you achieve your writing dreams.

Lisa E Betz

Lisa E. Betz is an engineer-turned-mystery-writer, entertaining speaker, and unconventional soul. She inspires others to become their best selves, living with authenticity, and purpose, and she infuses her novels with unconventional characters who thrive on solving tricky problems. Her Livia Aemilia Mysteries, set in first-century Rome, have won several awards, including the Golden Scroll Novel of the Year (2021).

She and her husband reside outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with Scallywag, their rambunctious cat—the inspiration for Nemesis, resident mischief maker in her novels. Lisa directs church dramas, hikes the beautiful Pennsylvania woods, eats too much chocolate, and experiments with ancient Roman recipes. Visit www.lisaebetz.com.

Categories
Writing with a Disability (Different Ability)

Getting Started

As the year comes to an end, we are all eager for a new year and a new start. It’s safe to say we are all tired of this pandemic life and are hoping for a better year. If you are like me you have an idea or a journal full of ideas for writing projects.

The writing life is a never-ending process. But we all must start from scratch when creating new projects. Unfortunately, the first step is often the hardest to take, especially after trudging through the winter and holiday season. It’s like going from 0 to 60 in under a minute, getting there sounds good but in reality, it is a chore just to get going. It is even harder for someone who lives with a brain injury.

  • Inability to focus
  • Movement is restricted
  • Lack of stamina to finish the task.

The writing life can be just as difficult to be productive as being disabled. Some writers are procrastinators by nature, they perform better under pressure. Some are self-starters, others must be nudged and guided where they need to go.

Perhaps you have more self-discipline or willpower than most writers. Either way, we all need to get started at some point; writing is a marathon, not a sprint—although they may start at the same point.

Getting Started!

A new year means new opportunities for each writer. Personally, I have quite a few projects in mind for this year: blogs, articles, and even a new screenplay. Like most writers, the problem isn’t coming up with new ideas, but just getting started and writing them.

Each writer has their own way of getting motivated to write: work out, go for a walk, overindulge in coffee/caffeine. Unfortunately, due to my brain injury, I must limit my intake of caffeine which only stimulates our nervous system to give us a buzz, not energy.

 Where do you find yourself in the quest for motivation to write? I looked online and found ways writers use to help them get started:

  1. Set writing goals: Set goals that are easy to meet. Give yourself a minimum daily word count you need to reach. At the end of each writing session record your word count in a writing diary.
  2. Set deadlines: There is no better motivator than a deadline. Look at a calendar and set a due date for each chapter of your book and I completed the first draft.
  3. Write now, edit later: An essential part of creative writing is to just get your story down. When words are flowing don’t stop to edit. You’ll forget your thoughts and ideas and you lose momentum.
  4. Find the perfect writing space: Find a spot where you do your best writing. Make sure it’s away from distractions.
  5. Remember that the journey is the destination: Be in the present and enjoy the experience of writing.
  6. Commit to a regular writing time: Getting into a regular writing habit is easier when you use time management skills and schedule a specific time to write every single day.
  7. Change your thought processes: Remind yourself that the only way to become a better writer is to sit down and write.
  8. Join a writing group: Sometimes writing for yourself, is simply not enough motivation. Join a writing group that meets regularly so you are accountable to other people to turn and what you write.
  9. Take five:  If you have writer’s block, step away from your writing routine. Go for a walk or a jog. Sometimes just getting exercise helps open the creative flow of gates.
  10. Switch up your setting: Changing where you work can get you out of a creative rut.
  11. Switch directions: When you stall out during the middle of a writing project, change what you’re working on. Switching to a new writing style can refresh your thoughts.
  12. Try writing prompts: A fun way to find motivation is to use writing prompts to ignite a story. Prompts are often a short text passage that a writer uses as fuel to launch into a bigger story.
  13. Reward yourself: Use bribery for a little motivation every now and then never hurts. Promise yourself a sweet treat, a cup of coffee, or some little reward for reaching a milestone in your writing session.
  14. Read a book: If you’re having a hard time finding motivation, pick up something to read. Reading will turn off your creative engine and give your mind a rest.
  15. Remember why you started writing: Remember why you started writing in the first place and refocus on the story you set out to tell.

During my early years in rehabilitation I had to see a neuropsychologist to help me not only understand what was going on with my brain and body, but to keep motivated in my recovery process, it was there I learned the difference between motivation and inspiration; motivation comes from within us, whereas inspiration is an external means to inspire us.

As a disabled person, I have learned that I am responsible for how I handle my disability. When I cannot motivate myself to get going, I can always turn to someone or something for inspiration to get going.

Inspiration?

Most Christian writers hope to inspire their readers through their writing. Where do you find your inspiration? As a disabled American I found so much inspiration in the story of Joni Eareckson Tada, her success, despite her disability, has inspired millions of disabled Americans. The late Dick Hoyt is another inspiration of mine, his unconditional love and support for his special needs son have encouraged millions of men.

As a writer I have also looked to other’s for inspiration and specific areas of my creative writing process, below are a few:

Regardless of what you write or if you’re disabled or not, there will come a time when we all need a little help getting started!

Martin Johnson

Martin Johnson survived a severe car accident with a (T.B.I.) Traumatic brain injury which left him legally blind and partially paralyzed on the left side. He is an award-winning Christian screenwriter who has recently finished his first Christian nonfiction book. Martin has spent the last nine years volunteering as an ambassador and promoter for Promise Keepers ministries. While speaking to local men’s ministries he shares his testimony. He explains The Jesus Paradigm and how following Jesus changes what matters most in our lives. Martin lives in a Georgia and connects with readers at MartinThomasJonhson.com  and on Twitter at mtjohnson51.

Categories
Writing with a Disability (Different Ability)

Goal Setting?

As we start a new year, most people have decided upon New Year’s resolutions, or made new goals. Most of my writing friends have already decided on specific writing goals for this year. I have a few aspirations myself for 2021.

  • Relaunching my monthly newsletter with specific content.
  • Building and launching a new website for my nonfiction writing, screenwriting, and speaking opportunities (I am an avid brain injury awareness advocate and I am a volunteer with Promise Keepers men’s ministry.
  • Getting more involved with both the disability community and men’s ministry.
  • Getting my latest screenplay professionally evaluated and then hosting it online.
  • Adding more content to my YouTube channel.
  • Possibly starting a new podcast.
  • Seeking professional representation.

These are more of the milestones I am working towards this year; I learned a harsh lesson after my accident about goal setting: Sometimes we don’t reach all of our goals.

Since the accident, I am unable play a guitar and I no longer play video games. And worst of all, I can no longer type 60 words a minute, much less type at all. My brain injury has affected my fine-tuned motor skills in my left hand. With that said, I understand that goal setting can be both good and bad in life.

Goal Setting!

We writers tend to be results-driven. We think if we pound out enough words or pages per day, in the end, we will achieve our writing dreams. And some do, but for the most part, few writers make a full time living only writing.

Still, I’m conflicted when I see my writing friends posting their word or page totals on any given day to their social media. Those kinds of results goals work for some, but for others of us, it only adds to the pressures of the writing life.

Let me be clear I understand the benefits of setting goals. I am not debating the need for them, just the tendency to over-focus on them. The following are clear benefits of goal setting.

1. Helps to meet deadlines.

2. This helps us to be more professional.

3. Goals help us to focus our attention in our writing.

4. They can help us to be more productive.

To be completely honest, I am not a fan of setting goals in my writing projects. When I try to focus on a word count or page number, I tend to get stressed out and place too much pressure on myself.

With my brain injury, stress overload can cause me to seize or stroke out. So I don’t overemphasize my goals. However, I do shoot for milestones or structure points in my writing to give me a place to work towards in each writing session.

For me, it is less stressful and doesn’t stifle my creativity. It can also stifle my writing voice when I try to force myself to write. I am more of a quality than a quantitative person; not just in my writing but in every aspect of life.

The disabled life can amplify the negatives of a writing life. If you think you have bad days, try adding a life-changing disability to it. Being disabled has taught me to appreciate the little things in life and not to stress over achieving big things.

Small victories are the goals I hope for, such as days when I can think clearly, write purposefully, and communicate effectively. I want my writing to have a clear message and purpose, and I hop the same for each day I live.

Be fervent about the little victories.

Fervent?

The best writers write with a purpose—they want to communicate. Their goal isn’t to turn out the most words or pages possible, their goal is to be a clear communicator.

One of the first rules I learned in my training as a writer was to learn how to “say more by writing less.” We must be intentional with each letter, word, and punctuation point. That is how our writing becomes concise.

With a brain injury, I have to consciously think about every move I make. I must consciously think to move my left leg and let my left arm swing as I walk. Disabled persons sometimes struggle to do the simplest things. We try our hardest to get better, even when it hurts. This is why we as writers must be intentional and realistic in our goal setting!

Martin Johnson survived a severe car accident with a (T.B.I.) Traumatic brain injury which left him legally blind and partially paralyzed on the left side. He is an award-winning Christian screenwriter who has recently finished his first Christian nonfiction book. Martin has spent the last nine years volunteering as an ambassador and promoter for Promise Keepers ministries. While speaking to local men’s ministries he shares his testimony. He explains The Jesus Paradigm and how following Jesus changes what matters most in our lives. Martin lives in a Georgia and connects with readers at Spiritual Perspectives of Da Single Guy and on Twitter at mtjohnson51.

Categories
Mastering Middle Grade

New Year’s Writerly Goals

Happy 2021, my MG friends!

Anyone else excited about having a fresh, clean, slate of months ahead in which to write? There’s nothing quite like looking at the calendar and thinking about all the possibilities a new year has in store.

Now that the holidays have subsided, many of us take time to plan our personal and professional goals for the year ahead.

Here are a few goals I’ve made for my writing in 2021. I’d love to hear yours if you want to add them to the comments below or connect with us on Instagram and share them there. Either way, having a supportive group to hold you accountable goes a long way toward achieving your goals.

2021 Goal #1: Set regular writing time, protect it, and keep it.

Discipline was my friend in 2019. I made a ton of progress in my writerly life. But amidst the general craziness that was last year, my schedule went haywire and momentum went south. Now is the perfect time to re-establish a writing rhythm.

Protecting my writing time boils down to prioritizing. When I worked 8-5, I set aside an hour in the evenings after family time to write. Now, I let my freelance clients know at the beginning of the week what my available “office hours” are and I stick to them.

Having the whole family home 24/7 made boundaries a little challenging at first. Fortunately, that “available office hours” practice I applied to my freelance clients also worked with my husband and son. Obviously if there were an emergency, I would punt work and tend to my family first. (To my son if you’re reading this: Wanting a snack is not an emergency)

In the new year, weekly planning – and sticking to that plan – will be a high priority.

2021 Goal #2: Reconnect with other writers.

Not too long into 2020, I noticed that the more time I spent online and on social media, the more my sense of well-being suffered. As thankful as I am for the technology that allowed me to stay in touch with my family and friends, I reached my limit quickly. By the end of 2020, my practice became to set a timer and check in on a handful of accounts- no scrolling for me.

The downside of this is that the community I’d worked so hard to cultivate on social media began to fall apart. Connection with other writers is important both to learn about our craft and to give and receive encouragement along the journey.

This year, I will include social media time in my weekly plan (see Goal #1), with the aim of rebuilding my community.

2021 Goal #3: Finish the edits and query the books.

This one is straight forward. I have some fun work just sitting here, waiting for those final polishes and queries. It’s past time for me to finish.

2021 Goal #4: Try new things.

I’ve been writing nonfiction for a living in the form of business-to-business marketing and ad writing. When I write books, they’re all middle grade fiction. Nonfiction for kids might be a good fit for me, but I’ve never tried it before. Now is as good a time as any to try it.

So, there you have it, friends. If you are setting writing goals, I’d love the opportunity to support you and encourage you this year.

Here’s to a peaceful, productive 2021.

Kell McKinney earned a B.A. in journalism from the University of Oklahoma and an M.S. in documentary studies from the University of North Texas. She’s a part-time copywriter, double-time mom and wife, and spends every free minute writing and/or hunting for her car keys. Connect with her on Twitter @Kell_McK or kellmckinney.com.

Categories
Book Proposals

Use Social Pressure to Finish Your Proposal

Do you procrastinate when it comes to creating a book proposal? You aren’t alone and it is common among writers. I’ve written a number of proposals and know the hard work which goes into each one. Two of my proposals received traditional publishing contracts with six-figure advances. The potential rewards from creating a book proposal are great—provided you finish it and locate the right editor or literary agent.

            Many writers dream of writing a book. They have partial proposals and sample chapters but have never completed the proposal—much less shown it to an editor or agent. If you are one of these writers, I suggest you use social pressure to complete your book proposal. If you have 300 Facebook friends and write, “This year (or this month or this week), I’m going to finish my book proposal.” You’ve not given many specifics but you have been public about your goal. This social pressure will motivate you to take the next step—finish the proposal. Some of your friends will even call or email you and ask about your progress.

social pressure

            Break the task into small pieces and create a list of steps, as you write each one, then cross them off. Create an achievable goal such as 500 words a day (two pages). Your consistent effort to get the proposal written and in top form will pay off.  Keep moving forward on the project and bit by bit it will get finished.

Years ago I interviewed bestselling novelist Bodie Thoene who has won multiple ECPA Gold Medallion Awards in the Christian fiction category. Bodie sits at her computer hitting the keys with two fingers. She may work until 10 p.m. to reach her goal–at least five finished pages. “No little elves come out of my closet to write 650 manuscript pages,” Bodie says. “Some mornings I don’t feel like writing, but I do it out of obedience to God.”

            “The opening scenes are always the hardest and can take as long as 10 or 20 pages,” Bodie explains. With the opening pages behind her, the writing accelerates until she often completes 20 or more pages a day. While you and I may not be able to write as many pages a day, we can write 500 words or two pages a day. If you do this day after day (consistency again), then you will get it done.

            Also tell your writing goal to an accountability partner of a friend or your spouse. If you miss a day or two or even a week, don’t beat yourself up. Instead return to writing and keep making progress. This year can be your year when you complete your book proposal and your book. With consistent and steady action, you can do it.

W. Terry Whalin, a writer and acquisitions editor lives in Colorado. A former magazine editor and former literary agent, Terry is an acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing. He has written more than 60 nonfiction books including 10 Publishing Myths, Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams and Billy Graham. To help writers catch the attention of editors and agents, Terry wrote his bestselling Book Proposals That $ell, 21 Secrets To Speed Your Success. He answers to your proposal questions at: www.AskAboutProposals.com. Check out his free Ebook, Platform Building Ideas for Every Author. His website is located at: www.terrywhalin.com. Connect with Terry on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Categories
Mastering Middle Grade

New Year, New Goals

It’s a brand new year. That means a new start to achieving new goals and a fresh clean slate to do it with.

Serious Writer posted a question to its community board last month asking writers to list their 2020 goals. Most of the responses involved completing works-in-progress, building marketing plans, and blogging consistently.

I wanted to add three goals for your consideration as we enter a new year:

1) Read at least one middle grade book each month. 

Stephen King said it best: “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”  When you read something that resonates with you – or doesn’t – analyze it. Figure out how the author constructed their chapter (or sentence, or paragraph) to create the response you felt. 

Reading comes in handy when it’s time to market your own work. You’ll better understand what types of books are on shelf, what’s selling, and how your work might fit within the genre.

2) Attend a writing workshop or conference.

The benefits of attending a conference are well worth the investment. There are opportunities to hold face-to-face meetings with editors, agents, and publishers. You can connect with other writers to build critique groups. If your conference offers critiques, you are able to receive valuable feedback on your work. The industry education alone is well worth the time and effort it takes to attend.

3) Write a review of a middle grade book each month. 

Reviews are important for authors. When you read a middle grade book, take a moment to write a (spoiler-free) review of what you’ve read. This does two things: First, it helps the author sell their book. Second, if you post a mini-review on your blog or social media account, it helps build your platform. Book reviews are crucial for new and self-published authors, so why not help other authors the way (someday soon) you wish to be helped?

Here’s wishing you a healthy, productive new writing year! If you have a new goal for 2020, tell me in the comments below or on Instagram at @klmckinneywrites.

Happy New Year!

Kell McKinney earned a B.A. in journalism from the University of Oklahoma and an M.S. in documentary studies from the University of North Texas. She’s a part-time copywriter, double-time mom and wife, and spends every free minute writing and/or hunting for her car keys. Connect with her on Twitter @Kell_McK or kellmckinney.com.

Categories
A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life

Goals . . . We Have Goals

lighter look at a writer's life

It is the dawn of a new year, even a new decade, and people are talking about goals. I guess “resolutions” are not mentioned any more, because they last until about January 15th and then are forgotten. “Goal” seems to be a better word, something to strive for over a longer period of time.

Of course, one of my yearly goals is to eat better and to lose weight. I have had varying levels of success with that one over the years, and this year is no different, considering all of the leftover holiday goodies in my kitchen cabinet. I’m doing okay right now, but the chocolate is calling my name.

Many of my friends are switching the focus to writing goals for the year. If I have seen one post on social media about writing goals, I have seen 20. Everyone is setting their goals, making their lists and checking them twice. (Yes, the Christmas stuff is still on my mind.)

What’s my writing goal for the year? I have put some thought into it, and here it is, an exclusive debut right here on A3. My writing goal for 2020 is . . . to write.

There, I said it.

It may seem overly simple, but, for me, just to put the rear in the chair and to write is what I need to do. Sure, it’s good to have goals of words per day or week, but I need to remind myself to write everyday, to establish the routine of regularly putting words on the page. It seems simple, but I work better with simple.

So avoid the chocolate and get that bottom in the chair. Let’s write!

Carlton Hughes wears many hats. By day, he’s a professor of communication at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he does object lessons and songs with motions as Children’s Pastor of Lynch Church of God. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including Chicken Soup for the Soul and several devotional books from Worthy Publishing—Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and the soon-to-be-released Everyday Grace for Men. Carlton and his wife Kathy have two college-age sons, Noah and Ethan. He is on the planning committee for Kentucky Christian Writers Conference and is a year-round volunteer for Operation Christmas child.

Categories
Devotional/Christian Living

5 SMART Goals for Christian Living and Devotional Writers

I started out 2019 with one goal: to get a Christian Living or devotional book contract. That didn’t happen. A lot of other wonderful things happened like a lot of speaking engagements and getting meaningful reader feedback from strangers and growing my email list from 240 people to 890 people. But because I did not meet my one goal I felt defeated and discouraged. I started to see myself as a failure as a writer.

Then I remembered a blog post I had written for a copywriting client about SMART goals. I realized that I was not a failure as a Christian living or devotional writer, but the goal I had set was not a SMART goal.

A SMART goal is a goal that is:

Specific

The goal needs to be specific enough that you know when it is complete. To “get better” at something or “do well” at something is not specific enough. My “get a book contract” goal was actually not specific enough. There are so many small steps between the thought of a book and getting a contract. I should have broken up this larger goal into smaller, specific pieces.

Measureable

You need numbers attached to your SMART goals such as submitting three book proposals or sending out one query letter a month.  These numbers also need to be entirely in your control. “Getting one book contract” is not totally in my control. There are agents and editors and publishers that factor into that goal. Instead, I should have focused my goal on submissions and manuscripts and book outlines and drafts as opposed to the book contract itself.

Attainable

Your goals need to be realistic. “Publish ten books this year” is not realistic for most writers. At the same time, the goals need to be challenging enough to spur you on. If you already write two blog posts a month, don’t make that the goal. It’s not challenging.

Relevant

Make sure your goals will actually lead to your overall life goals as a writer. For me at this point, I need to concentrate on submitting articles for websites and publications with larger audiences. In the past, I have guest blogged for smaller blogs which I appreciated doing, but I need to focus on articles now in order to achieve my overall goal of growing my platform and getting my book published.  

Time-bound

If there is no due date for the goal, it’s not happening.

With the SMART goal parameters in mind, and lots of prayer, here are my five realistic goals to start out the New Year:

1. Create and share Pinnable images for all my old blog posts. This goal is important to me because other than Google, Pinterest is my biggest traffic source for my blog, Read the Hard Parts. Pinterest is also where I am getting most of my 50-100 new email subscribers. Along with this goal, I also want to schedule ten pins a day on Tailwind, manually pin once a day, and create one Read the Hard Parts freebie per quarter. These goals should help me reach my overall Pinterest goal of one million Pinterest views per month. At this moment I have 232k views per month. But one million views cannot be my SMART goal because Pinterest could change their algorithm at any time and that is out of my control. But these other goals about sharing and Pinterest images are in my control and will over time contribute to my overall goal.

2. Submit one article a month to a large website or publication. First I need to gather a list of places to pitch my articles, places like The Gospel Coalition, Desiring God, For the Church, incourage.me, and Leading Hearts Magazine. Notice my goal is to submit an article and not get it published. That is in the Lord’s hands.

3. Create a blog post once a month. For the last two years I have been blogging about once a week. Now I have almost one hundred posts on my site. So that I have time to submit articles, focus on Pinterest, and try to write a book, I need to cut back here.

4. Self-publish a short Bible study book by the end of January. Although my goal is traditional publishing, I’m getting back logged with ideas for books that have not found a match in traditional publishing. I wasn’t sure what to do about this until I heard novelist Shawn Smucker speak on a panel at Lancaster Christian Writers. He self-published until he was noticed by a traditional publisher. He said, “Sometimes self-publishing is the right move so that you are not stuck and you can keep moving.” That is exactly what I needed to hear. I was stuck with my half-finished ideas and at this point self-publishing a Bible study book will keep me moving. This goal comes with a myriad of smaller steps and goals like a rough draft by December 1, finish self-edits by December 15th, and then meeting with an author friend in January to learn how to format the book properly with a well-designed cover.

5. Send in my next book proposal to my agent by January 15. A new book idea has been unfolding and it has been a pleasure to see it blossoming. I want to have a deadline for this book proposal so I will get it done!

Will I get traditionally published in 2020? I don’t know. That is not in my control, ultimately. But these five SMART goals can help me get there, Lord willing.

What are your SMART goals for the New Year? Let me know in the comments!

Rachel Schmoyer is a pastor’s wife who is loving her church life. She writes about the hard parts of Scripture at readthehardparts.com. She has had devotionals published in the past, but now she is looking forward to getting her first Christian Living book published. You can connect with Rachel on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest.

Categories
The Intentional Writer

What’s the Big Deal About NaNoWriMo?

The intentional writer

If you are a writer, you have probably heard of NaNoWriMo—National Novel Writing Month.

Maybe you’ve tried NaNoWriMo in the past.

Maybe you’re in the middle of it right now. (If you are, Bravo! I wish you success.)

If you haven’t participated, you may have decided it’s too intense, or doesn’t apply to your genre, or it’s just not your style. Maybe so, but there are good reasons so many writers join the movement, and the rest of us can apply some of those benefits even if we’re not participating.

Here are some principles from NaNoWriMo that all writers can apply to their work no matter what they write or what month they write it in.

A good writer benefits from:

  • Pre-planning: It is much easier to write when you know the main point you want to communicate or where you want the story to end. Whether you are trying to complete a manuscript in one month or a weekly post for your blog, appropriate pre-planning will help you succeed more confidently and efficiently. How much foundation do you need to write a good story?
  • Concrete goals: Most of us work better when we have well-defined, reasonable goals to shoot for (such as the typical NaNo goal of 1,667 words per day). What specific and measureable goals will inspire you to keep going, even on the tough days?   
  • Consistency: The best way to get better at any skill is to practice consistently. First of all, if you write consistently it will become a habit, which means you will be more likely to keep at it even on the days you don’t feel like it. Secondly, writing consistently strengthens the connection to your subconscious where true creativity comes from.
  • Accountability: Hitting your goals on a consistent basis is easier when you know others are following your progress. If you struggle to be consistent in your writing, look for someone to keep you accountable. A regular meeting (face to face or virtual) with critique partners is one good option.
  • Support: Being part of a world-wide community of writers is often cited as a key benefit of the NaNo movement. Writing is a lonely business. Even the most introverted of us need support from other humans to keep going.
  • Motivation: Some writers are motivated by goals and deadlines. Others thrive on competition. Yet others work best in a community of like-minded peers who can spur each other on with daily boosts of encouragement. If you know what style of motivation works for you, you can find fellow writers to help you keep at it.
  • Creativity without judgment: Most of us have a critical voice in our heads that wants to edit every word we write. That voice is deadly to the creativity needed in a first draft!  If you find it impossible to allow yourself to write a lousy first draft full of typos, clichés, and bad grammar, maybe you should try NaNo. Pushing through a novel in a month leaves no time for that pesky editor to meddle with your creative output. Writing sprints are another strategy that can help you work past your inner critic.  
  • Limited and achievable milestones: Part of the beauty of NaNoWriMo is that the commitment is only for one month. It’s easier to keep going when we know there is finish line in sight. And celebrating each small milestone as you reach it helps, too.

I hope these concepts have inspired and encouraged you, no matter where you are in your writing journey. Which of these principles will be most helpful to you today? What’s keeping you from giving it a try?

Award-winning writer Lisa E. Betz believes that everyone has a unique story to tell the world. She loves inspiring fellow writers to be more intentional about developing their craft and courageous in sharing their words. Lisa shares her words through speaking, leading Bible studies, writing historical mysteries, and blogging about living intentionally.

You can find her on Facebook  LisaEBetzWriter Twitter @LisaEBetz and Pinterest Lisa E Betz Intentional Living.

Categories
Writing with a Disability (Different Ability)

Keep Motivated

This year has been a year of crazy weather in the South with abnormally high temperatures late into fall. Georgia weather is always bipolar, but this year has been worse.

Just when we thought the mugginess of summer was gone and the crisp fall was here, de ja vu set in as record highs smothered the South.

The irony for me is I generally like warm weather because it helps keep me motivated and going in my outdoor activities. Although I bike year-round, cooler temperatures can suck the life out of a person with a brain injury.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the beauty of fall, but I know the ugly reality of SAD (seasonal affective disorder):

  • Feeling depressed most of the day, nearly every day.
  • Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed.
  • Having low energy.
  • Having problems with sleeping.
  • Experiencing changes in your appetite or weight.
  • Having difficulty concentrating.
  • Feeling hopeless, worthless or guilty.
  • Having frequent thoughts of death or suicide.[i]

Add to these the effects of cooler temperatures on brain injuries and the outcome is almost paralyzing. Cooler months plus the holidays can make it impossible for writers to stay focused and keep motivated to write.

Motivated?

Webster’s defines motivation as, “A motivating force, stimulus, or influence:incentive, drive.” Often during this time of year most of us begin to focus on the holidays: the planning, shopping, and schedule rearranging can be overwhelming itself, much less waiting to see what crazy weather may be coming our way to throw a wrench in our schedules.

The additional stress of the holidays can suck the creativity out of writers like a vampire. During this season, while I’m physically struggling due to my disability,  I have to force myself into my home office and hope I can be creative instead of just looking out one of the windows as the leaves gradually change colors and drift off to their final resting place on the ground.

Recently, I searched online for some tips on being productive with my writing over the holidays. Writership.com suggests ten tips to keep our creative flow, flowing during this congested time of year:

  1. Know yourself – think about what distracts you and avoid those things. And if you can’t, devise a backup plan to help keep you on track.
  2. Remember your writing goals – keep your writing goals posted and in your line of vision so you can focus on that to help keep you motivated while holiday parties are calling your name.
  3. Stick to your routine as much as possible – although there are added commitments during the holidays. Keep doing all the things you can to support your writing.
  4. Schedule your writing time – figure out what you need to do to stay on track with your writing goals and schedule that in. If another activity requires your attention, then reschedule your writing time so that your writing doesn’t suffer.
  5. Lean on your accountability partner or group –let your support group know what’s hard for you and what you’re trying to achieve.
  6. Make use of the time you have – as Steven Pressfield says, ‘work in the cracks.’ Get up a little earlier; go to bed a little later. Use your lunch hour. Have your spouse watch the kids for an hour. Bring your writing tools wherever you go. Think about characters while you drive.
  7. Don’t give in to discouragement – if you miss a milestone, allow yourself to be disappointed for a few moments, and then get back to it.
  8. Say no when you need to – prioritize what’s important and say no to everything else.
  9. Prioritize self-care – among your priorities should be getting enough sleep, eating well, and moving your body.
  10. Continue under all circumstances – something will always compete with your attention, whether it’s the holidays, a day job, or a life-challenging circumstance.[ii]

I think the basic idea here is to work with what you have, something is better than nothing. 

Work with Whatever You Have?

This year I focused on building my platform on brain injury awareness. Whether connecting with survivors or caregivers online or in person, I always try to tell people to focus on what they can do instead of what they can’t.

Last month in an article published in a brain injury magazine, I discussed letting go of the past and what we used to do and instead focusing on the present and what we can do. Having a brain injury doesn’t mean my life is over, just life as I used to know it. I’ve learned to keep three thoughts in mind to keep me motivated:

  • Keep moving to keep momentum and stay moving.
  • Don’t make excuses, make progress.
  • Don’t wallow in self-pity; this is a season and it will pass.

For the most part, just like in life, seasons change and life goes on. When the weather blues get to you, look within and not around you to stay motivated.

Martin Johnson survived a severe car accident with a (T.B.I.) Traumatic brain injury which left him legally blind and partially paralyzed on the left side. He is an award-winning Christian screenwriter who has recently finished his first Christian nonfiction book. Martin has spent the last nine years volunteering as an ambassador and promoter for Promise Keepers ministries. While speaking to local men’s ministries he shares his testimony. He explains The Jesus Paradigm and how following Jesus changes what matters most in our lives. Martin lives in a Georgia and connects with readers at Spiritual Perspectives of Da Single Guy and on Twitter at mtjohnson51.

[i] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651

[ii] https://writership.com/news/2016/12/16/10-tips-keep-writing-through-the-holidays

Categories
Writers Chat

Writers Chat Recap for July, Part Two

Writers Chat, hosted by Jean Wise, Johnnie Alexander, and Bethany Jett, is the show where we talk about all things writing, by writers and for writers!

Because talking about writing is more fun than actually doing it.

Mid-Year Goal Review

The Writers Chat team and community discuss the progress of our goals for 2019. We shared our successes, setbacks, the unexpected, and things we learned. We also talked about the ebb and flow of the writing journey. If you’ve experienced setbacks in your goals this year, watch the replay and be encouraged.

Watch the July 16th replay.

For encouragement in the ebb and flow of writing, check out this week’s Show Notes and Live Discussion.

More on Marketing with Bethany Jett

Bethany Jett—author, entrepreneur, and marketing grad student—shares ideas on marketing for fiction and nonfiction. She also tells what she learned at the Book Expo in New York. This episode is full of great ideas and inspiration to help you with marketing.

Watch the July 23rd replay.

JOIN US!

Writers Chat is hosted live each Tuesday for an hour starting at 10 AM CT / 11 AM ET on Zoom. Here’s the permanent Zoom room link. 

Participants mute their audio and video during the filming then we open up the room for anyone who wishes to participate with our guests. The “After Party” is fifteen-minutes of off-the-record sharing and conversation.

Additionally, you can grow your network and add to the conversation by joining our Writers Chat Facebook Group.

Categories
Guest Posts

9 Ways to Squeeze More Writing Into Your Day

Writing takes up a lot of time, and time is our most precious commodity. If you’re struggling to fit your creative work into your busy schedule, here are some ways to get more writing time into your day…

Early morning

I was always someone who got up late and stayed up late. But having children put me through a painful sleep training program, and even now that they are getting older I still wake naturally at 5:30 am. So I’ve gotten into the habit of getting up when I wake, and stealing an hour’s writing time or more while the rest of house sleeps. It might sound tough, but it’s surprising how quickly the routine sets in, and I’ve come to love these early-morning times.

In bed
Ideas rarely come punctually, and some of the best ones often come to us at unexpected and inconvenient times — in the shower, in bed, on the bus to work. The trick is to make sure you have some way of capturing these fleeting but often vital thoughts, such as a notebook by the bed. I often record random thoughts in my phone too as I go about my day too. 

On the commute to work
There are lots of ways you can boost your writing on the way to work. Reading is the best way to get better at writing, of course. You could also read books that are an inspiration for your current project, or useful background research. If you’re driving, podcasts and audiobooks about productivity and writing technique can be invaluable too.

In the supermarket queue
Even when you have just a few minutes of dead time, such as waiting in line at a food outlet or sitting in the hairdresser’s, you can be working on your writing career. Check your social feeds and grow your network, add value to social conversations by sharing useful content, and keep up to date on comments on your guest posts. There are lots of apps to help you do this easily on your smartphone.

At work

If you work involves waiting or travelling, there may be opportunities to jot down notes or do some reading. Make good use of your lunch hour too – if it doesn’t feel like enough time to start writing something, you could always review a printout of a recent scene or chapter you’ve written. Also, keep an ear out for things your coworkers say: you may get some good ideas for dialogue or plotting. 

Doing childcare

When you’re looking after children, there are sometimes little pockets of time that you can put to creative use. A friend of mine wrote big chunks of a novel on his phone, while looking after his baby in the middle of the night! With older children, you may have a chance to do a little creative daydreaming while they’re at the playground or in the pool. Think about a tricky plot point you can’t quite work out, or play a scene in your head that you’re planning to write later.

Socializing

Even when you’re out socializing, there are ways you can still be thinking about your writing. Listen out for dialogue and stories that might provide valuable material. Talk to people about experiences and expertise that might come in handy. I once met someone at a party who turned out to be a police officer; I learned all sorts of useful things that I put into a story I was writing at the time…

Evenings

Depending on your schedule and your sleeping pattern, evenings may be the best time for you to get some writing done. Try to do the writing before the TV goes on, while you’re fresher. Set yourself a modest target – say 500 words or one scene per session – and if possible finish in the middle of something; that way it’ll be easier to get started the next night. Little and often is better than burning down the candle — if you stay up really late too frequently, you won’t give yourself a chance to relax and it’ll be harder to keep up the momentum over time.

Weekends

For many aspiring writers, the weekends is the main time to get some work done. But again, don’t put too much pressure on yourself to get too much work squeezed in: a schedule that’s too punishing will quickly fall over, and you need time to relax and step away from the writing process too. Momentum matters more than writing binges: better to write 1000 words a weekend for 12 months (48,000 words) and establish a really strong routine in the process, than do two weekends of 5000 words each, after which you give up exhausted!

Dan Brotzel (Twitter handle: @brotzel_fiction) is co-author of a new comic novel, Kitten on a Fatberg (Unbound). As a reader of this blog, you can pre-order Kitten on a Fatberg for a 10% discount – just quote promo code KITTEN10

Categories
Embrace the Wait

Survival Tips for the Waiting Part of Writing

Tip #1 – Keep your eye on the goal

With three seconds left on the clock all Tim could think about was advancing to the state championship finals. He’d spent his whole high school career in anticipation of this one moment in time. How many parties had he missed because of practice and workout schedules? How many hours had he spent muddling through math homework to make a passing grade? How many opportunities had he passed up for this chance? Too many. But it would be worth the sacrifice in just a few short moments.

He swiped the beaded sweat from his brow, took a deep breath, and sized up his opponent. Tim had no doubt he could tip the ball when the whistle blew. But regaining the ball and making the winning basket would take focus, skill, and more than a little luck. The shrill scream of the whistle ignited the passion burning in his muscles and fired Tim into action. He tipped. He grabbed. He dribbled. And … he scored, right as the buzzer sounded! An eerie silence filled the packed gymnasium. Then—an explosion of garbled outcries erupted from the crowd. Tim had made the winning shot …  all net, right into the other team’s hoop.

Had Tim invested the hard work required to excel at the game? Yes. Had he made the right sacrifices and set the right priorities to develop his skill? Yes. Had he given his all at crunch time to ensure a win? Yes. The problem? He had lost sight of the correct goal.

Although specifics vary, I think it’s safe to say that most Christian writers share one common overarching goal; we all want our writing to reflect our faith. We want the best of us—which is Christ in us—to shine brightly from the page no matter the genre. So we literally write our hearts out for Him. In the beginning that’s so easy. He is our muse, our driving force, the narrator of all our penned words. But when the work is done and we descend from our writing high there’s often a valley at the bottom of that hill.

It’s called waiting.

In the wilderness of waiting there are plenty of distractions that can lure our attention away from the goal. During that seemingly long stretch of time between a finished piece of work and the payoff most of us will encounter pitfalls like rejection, discouragement, comparison, self-doubt, and worse. We’ll talk more about each of those things in future posts. But above all else if we can learn how to focus on the right goal, no pitfall will ever entrap us.

So let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith … and our writing. He’s busy at work during that waiting wilderness—molding and making us into who He has called us to be. The wait may seem like a monotonous and irritating waste of time, but I love how Pastor John Piper describes the silent work of God’s sovereign hand; “God is always doing 10,000 things in your life, and you may be aware of three of them.”

Scripture—to help keep your eye on the goal:

Hebrews 12:1-2, Psalm 121:1, Psalm 123:1, 2 Corinthians 4:18, Isaiah 26:3, Proverbs 3:5-6

Fun Fact—to help keep your eye on the goal:

The famous and inspirational book Chicken Soup For The Soul ONLY became a became a best-seller and award winning series AFTER a whopping 144 rejections! Chicken Soup’s author, Jack Canfield wrote, “If we had given up after 100 publishers, I likely would not be where I am now.” He went on to say, “If you have a vision and a life purpose, and you believe in it, then you do not let external events tell you what is so.”

 

Annette Marie Griffin is a award-winning writer who speaks at local women’s group meetings and women’s retreats on the topic of biblical womanhood and finding our identity in Christ. She is the Operations and Events Coordinator at a private school for special needs students and is the editor of their quarterly newsletter. She has written custom curriculum for women’s retreats and children’s church curriculum for Gateway Church in San Antonio, Texas where she served as Children’s Ministry Director and Family Program Director for over twenty years. She and her husband John have five amazing children and two adorable grands. She’s a member of Word Weavers International, ACFW, SCBWI, and serves on the Board of Directors for The Creative Writing Institute.

Categories
Writers Chat

Writers Chat Recap for January, Part One

Writers Chat, hosted by Jean Wise, Johnnie Alexander, and Bethany Jett, is the show where we talk about all things writing, by writers, and for writers!

“Because talking about writing is more fun than actually doing it!”

Featuring… Goals for 2019

In this open mic episode, writers discuss their goals for 2019 and some interesting resources they use to achieve their goals.

Watch the January 8th replay

 

If you want resources on goal setting for 2019, check out this week’s Show Notes and Live Chat Discussions.

JOIN US!

Writers Chat is hosted live each Tuesday for an hour starting at 10 AM CT / 11 AM ET on Zoom. Here’s the permanent Zoom room link.

Participants mute their audio and video during the filming, then we open up
the room for anyone who wishes to participate with our guests. The “After Party” is fifteen-minutes of off-the-record sharing and conversation.

Additionally, you can grow your network and add to the conversation by joining our Writers Chat Facebook Group.

Categories
Guest Posts

Watch Your Step

Hiking can quickly change from breathtaking scenery to a breathtaking fall. We have to watch our steps in order to get where we want to go.

Writers must also take the right steps to achieve our goals.

Failure to Focus

Careful walkers focus on our destination and the best path there. Wrong steps can turn ankles, break bones, or end in death.

Likewise, careful writers maintain focus. We decide what we want to say, how to say it, and stick to it. If we stray off topic, we stumble. That misstep may turn away editors, break our spirits, and end in our manuscript’s death.

Choose a plan. Work the plan.

Faulty Fit

A successful walk requires shoes that fit well. If we ignore the fit, we live with pain.

If writers expect success, we meet publication length requirements. Failure to follow guidelines ends in rejection.

Read the guidelines. Write to fit them.

Flawed Form

Serious walkers never choose dress shoes for hikes. We match our footwear to the demands of our destination.

Serious writers study publications. We verify what audiences expect and what editors accept.

Determine a publisher’s slant. Conform to it.

Flights of Fancy

A little experience can result in overly-confident walkers. We try fancy footwork and tackle challenges beyond our abilities. As a result, we fall flat on our face.

We writers tend to grow fancy with words as well. We use 10 words when four will do. We wax poetic when simplicity suffices. We overemphasize. We repeat. We tell rather than show. We seek cleverness rather than clarity.

Write what needs to be said. Then stop.

Fast and Frenzied

If we rush or multi-task as we put on our shoes, expect problems. Loose laces, slick soles, and other mistakes slip in unnoticed. Readiness takes time.

Before we submit a manuscript, edit several times. Read it aloud and edit again. Wait a couple of days, print, read aloud, and edit once more. Recently, when I cut those steps short, I overlooked a grammatical error that sets my teeth on edge. I have no doubt it does the same for editors.

Take the time to do it right. Otherwise, you’ll do it over.

Final Fix

Before dashing out the door, a cautious walker completes one last check. Clean, comfortable socks? Check. Appropriate shoes? Check. Shoes securely tied? Check.

Writers who want to get published give manuscripts one last perusal before hitting the submit button or sealing the envelope. That simple precaution caught my previously-mentioned grammatical snafu. I was the only one who saw my misstep — that time.

Make one last check. Collect more checks.

Fear of Failure

How many people plan a walking program but never get out the door?

How many writers never write? We read about writing, discuss writing, attend writers conferences, and seek guidance from published writers. Eventually, however, we must take that first step.

Ignore the fear and trembling. Go forth boldly and write!

Diana Derringer is an award-winning writer and author of Beyond Bethlehem and Calvary: 12 Dramas for Christmas, Easter, and More! Hundreds of her articles, devotions, dramas, planning guides, Bible studies, and poems appear in 40-plus publications, including The Upper Room, The Christian Communicator, Clubhouse, Kentucky Monthly, Seek, and Missions Mosaic, plus several anthologies. She also writes radio drama for Christ to the World Ministries. Visit her at dianaderringer.com or on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.

Categories
The Intentional Writer

Is “Write Every Day” Good Advice?

The intentional writer

Write Every Day

It’s oft-given advice for aspiring writers. If you want to become a good writer, you should write every day. Sounds like simple, practical advice. But is it?

That depends.

I know writers who work best when given concrete goals. For them Write Every Day might be exactly the kick in the butt they need to keep motivated. I know other writers whose creativity shuts down when faced with an inflexible goal like Write Every Day, because sooner or later (probably sooner) life will get in the way and they will miss their daily quota. Guilt will set in and before they know it they have become disillusioned and quit writing altogether.

So, if Write Every Day is not always good advice, why is it given so frequently?

The intent behind the words

“Exercise the writing muscle every day, even if it is only a letter, notes, a title list, a character sketch, a journal entry. Writers are like dancers, like athletes. Without that exercise, the muscles seize up.” – Jane Yolen

Writers are advised to write every day because, as the quote indicates, good writers know the benefits of developing a habit of writing consistently.

Three reasons this is important:

  • Practice makes us better. Like any skill, the more we practice writing, the better we get.
  • A consistent writing habit helps us overcome Resistance. We can find a million excuses to avoid writing. A consistent routine helps us get our butts in the chair and words on the screen.
  • Keeping our head in the project increases the flow of ideas. Creativity doesn’t just happen. Many factors come into play that increase or decrease our ability to think creatively. Tapping into our creative thinking regularly will encourage the subconscious linkages that lead to inspiration.

How can you develop the habit of writing consistently without the burden of Write Every Day?

By adopting strategies that help you make writing a priority while allowing flexibility to adapt to the realities of life.

Here are some to try:

Know your “why” and honor your passions

Joy is a stronger motivator than guilt, fear, or duty. Start by defining why you want to write. Keep your “why” fresh in your mind and let it motivate you. Also know what you love about writing. If watching characters come alive is your thing, forcing yourself to journal may not be productive. Neither will writing science articles if your heart is set on world-building or romance. It’s easier to be consistent when you are doing the kind of writing that feeds your soul and inspires your creativity.

Ease into writing

Starting is often the hardest part of writing. Many writers have discovered that beginning their time with a creative writing prompt loosens the writing muscles and gets things flowing. It’s less intimidating than jumping right into their “serious writing work.” (One writing friend calls this approach “sneaking in the back door.”) If you hate the idea of “wasting” time that could be spent on “real” work, here’s a trick: Use writing prompts strategically. Adapt a writing prompt so it applies to some aspect of your work-in-progress. Then you can ease into writing while simultaneously accomplishing something that directly impacts your current manuscript.

The percentage strategy

Instead of making specific time goals, one friend assesses each day to see how much time is available. Then she takes the available minutes and divides it between writing time and other work. For example, if she had three hours and she allotted 25% to writing, she would write for forty-five minutes. Some days she has more. Some days she has less. Some days she has no time for writing. Life happens. The percentage method allows a flexibility that has breathed grace and renewed motivation into her writing life.  Note: My friend has found that this system works best when she does her writing before she tackles other tasks.

Broaden your definition of writing

When I am working on a rough draft, I find a goal of writing two-thousand words a day keeps me chugging along. But what about the bulk of my writing life when I am outlining or revising instead of filling blank pages? I broaden my definition of writing to include all creative thinking that is connected to the writing process. Editing, rewriting, plotting, outlining, character sketches, doodling while dreaming up new ideas… All of it involves exercising my creative muscles, so I say it counts. This helps me remain motivated instead of frustrated at a perceived lack of output.

What about you? What keeps you from writing consistently?

Which strategies have helped you develop a more consistent writing habit?

Lisa E. Betz believes that everyone has a story to tell the world. She loves to encourage fellow writers to be intentional about their craft and courageous in sharing their words with others. Lisa shares her words through dramas, Bible studies, historical mysteries, and her blog about intentional living. You can find her on Facebook  LisaEBetzWriter and Twitter @LisaEBetz

Categories
Time Management

Tackling Time Management

When I was first asked to be a contributing writer to a new column on time management, at first I groaned a little inside. Me, a super creative, “big idea,” not-that-organized, hate-the-business-end author, short on “time” and not that strong on “management” – more or less like most of us I’m guessing – I was being asked to write about time management!

Still, since I do have a lot of experience juggling a full-time author/ speaker/ book coach business with a marketing director career and blended family of five kids and two grandkids…and since I figured it would help me to help you on this subject, of course I couldn’t’ say no!

If you are a writer who often feels overwhelmed, can’t get everything done in a day, or are losing your “joy” in the busyness of it all, then you’re in the right place! Here are few basic practical pointers – things that have helped me along the way – that I hope will help you get started in better managing your time:

Have a Plan.

Wherever you are on your journey, you need to stop in your tracks and if you haven’t already done so, WRITE DOWN YOUR PLAN (write out your vision, mission, goals and action steps to carry out those goals). Write your plan for one year with 3-5 major “big goals”, 10 goals to accomplish those goals, and action step lists per quarter, month, week and day, being realistic yet aiming high with those lists. If you want a good guide to do this read The Success Principles by Jack Canfield (author of Chicken Soup for the Soul). I’ve heard him speak and he is a great example of how to achieve success by following a plan.

Schedule Your Writing Time.

To write my last novel while juggling all of my other “jobs” and life in general, I scheduled a block of writing time every day (except Sunday) from 7 am to 1 pm. Everything else – cell phone, emails, social media, even all of the people in my life – were turned off, put on hold or put aside. The ONLY THING I allowed myself to do during that time was write. I figured I could usually knock out an average of three pages every two hours – so that meant writing 9-10 pages every day.

If you’re working 6 days a week writing 10 pages a day, or 60 pages a week, you can complete a 300-page novel in five short weeks! (I know this is not feasible for those working day jobs but it should give you hope that if you schedule time and stick to it, you can get that book of yours done in a matter of months.) After the writing was complete, I spent the same blocked-off time in editing until it was good to go!

Don’t be so hard on yourself.

I had a student in my writing class at Cecil College in Maryland named Faith. She was writing a memoir and she was a great student. But I’ll never forget the first class she took (I was actually speaking about time management!). During a break, Faith came up to me and asked, “are you still considered a real writer if you don’t write every day?” I answered, “of course!” and encouraged her to do what worked for her. She broke down in tears of relief. I came to find she was holding back for years on writing her book because she was afraid she wasn’t a “real” writer!

Be Realistic.

There are only so many hours in a day. I usually try to pack in way too many things – I usually have high expectations of myself and others…but often that leads only to disappointment, resentments and frustration. Don’t make promises or to-do lists you can’t possibly keep.

Trust God’s Timing.

Sure you have to do the work here on earth but always try to be where your feet are (stay in today) and do what you can, then let the rest go or give it to God in faith that He has a plan for you too!

Finally, like life, time management is all about balance. My next blog post will be about priorities and choices. Stay tuned!

Michele Chynoweth is the award-winning author of The Faithful One, The Peace Maker and The Runaway Prophet, contemporary suspense/romance novels based on Old Testament stories in the Bible that get across God’s messages to today’s readers through edgy, fast-paced fiction. Michele is also an inspirational speaker, college instructor on book writing, publishing and marketing, and book coach/editor who helps writers become successful authors. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, she and her husband have a blended family of five children.

Social Media/Website Links:

Website: michelechynoweth.com
Blog: michelechynoweth1.wordpress.com
Facebook Author Page: ModernDayBibleStories
Twitter: AuthorMichele
You Tube: MicheleChynoweth

 

Categories
The Intentional Writer

Are You a Intentional Writer?

The intentional writer

Lots of people aspire to be writers. Not so many do the work to become one. The fact that you are visiting a writing website means you are serious enough to do something about your writing dream.

Good for you! Keep it up.

Writing, like any creative endeavor, can be a lonely, frustrating struggle. To move from daydreaming about being a writer to actually becoming one, you and I need to be intentional about what we do and why we do it.

Intentional: done with intention or on purpose; intended; deliberate

An intentional writer approaches writing with purpose

  • They know who they are in Christ.
  • They know writing is part of their calling .
  • They understand that they have a unique message and a unique voice—no matter how mundane the content or unglamorous the genre.
  • They ponder why they write and who they write for.
  • They choose to be courageous about putting their experiences and life-passions into words and then sharing those words with others.
  • They are wise stewards of their writing abilities, always learning, improving, and seeking new ways to share their words.

An intentional writer makes deliberate choices about things like:

  • Attitudes
  • Habits
  • Writing goals
  • How to spend their writing time
  • How they talk about themselves and their work
  • Every element of their craft, from overall theme to individual word choice.
  • When to follow the rules and when to break them
  • Pursuing critique partners who give helpful (and sometimes painful) feedback

An intentional writer knows success is not measured in dollars, fame, or total pages published.

  • They understand the ultimate goal of writing to honor God, whether that means writing an entertaining romance or a thought-provoking theology book.
  • They trust God to use their efforts to challenge, encourage, or otherwise touch people, wherever, whenever, and however he chooses.
  • They are generous with their writing and their knowledge, eager to encourage fellow writers.

Please don’t think this intentional stuff is way too serious for you.

Every aspiring writer can become an intentional writer. All it takes is a decision to be intentional about the how, why and what of your writing.

What one small step can you take to be more intentional about your writing today?

Lisa E. Betz believes that everyone has a story to tell the world. She loves to encourage fellow writers to be intentional about their craft and courageous in sharing their words with others. Lisa shares her words through dramas, Bible studies, historical mysteries, and her blog about intentional living. You can find her on Facebook  LisaEBetzWriter and Twitter @LisaEBetz

Categories
Dear Young Scribes Genre

How to Set Writing Goals and Finish Your Book

 

[bctt tweet=”How to Set Writing Goals and Finish Your Book #writingtips @tessaemilyhall “]

As a teen, you have plenty of time to continue to grow in your craft and finish your book. But even though you aren’t in a rush to achieve publication, you can decrease chances of procrastination and distractions by setting writing goals.

Here’s how:

  • Time yourself as you write and calculate how many words, on average, you write in an hour. (For example: Let’s say it takes me 1 hour to write 1,000 words.)
  • Decide on an amount of hours you are able to work on your book weekly. (If I can find time to write for 2 hours a day and five days a week, then I would be able to work on my book for 10 hours per week.)
  • Calculate the estimated amount of words you could write per week if you stick to this plan. (In the above example, I could write 10,000 words per week.)
  • Then, calculate how long it will take you to complete your book. (If I had only 20,000 more words to write of my book, then I could finish it within two weeks if I stuck with this plan.)

You could also do this process in reverse.

For example, if you hope to finish your book within four weeks and you still have 40,000 more words to write, you could:

  • Decide on the amount of words you would like to complete in one week. (In this example, let’s say that you chose to set a goal for 10,000 words per week. That way, you would reach your goal of 40,000 words within four weeks.)
  • Calculate how many words you can write in an hour. (Let’s say you wrote 500 words per hour.)
  • Then, calculate how many hours per day you should devote to writing in order to meet your weekly goal. (You would be able to write 2,000 words per day if you wrote for 4 hours a day. If you wrote five days a week, then you would reach your weekly goal. And if you meet your weekly goal four weeks in a row, then you would have reached your ultimate goal of 40,000 words in one month.)

By breaking down your writing goals, you reduce chances of becoming overwhelmed at the idea of writing a book. Instead, you’ll discover how the process of writing a book is simple: It is achieved through the daily discipline of writing the same amount of words that could compose a blog post.

[bctt tweet=”By breaking down your writing goals, you reduce chances of becoming overwhelmed at the idea of writing a book. #amwriting @tessaemilyhall”]

Stick with this, and eventually, your book will be complete!

Do you set writing goals? If so, has it helped you finish your book?

(PS: From now until the end of December, you can receive a discount off of my teen writing program, WRITE NOW! Click here to find out more.)